Angularly-supported sponge mop



Nov. 29, 1960 A. REBERNAK ElAL ANGULARLY-SUPPORTED SPONGE MOP Filed June20. 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 fi INVENZZRdSJ BY gfiia kahm ATTORNEYS.

Nov. 29, 1960 A. REBERNAK ETAL 2,961,676

ANGULARLY-SUPPORTED SPONGE MOP Filed June 20, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 24Maw/ 4 ATTORNEKS.

Nov. 29, 1960 A. REBERNAK ETAL 2,961,676

ANGULARLY-SUPPORTED SPONGE MOP Filed June 20, 1955 s Sheets-Sheet aINVENTORS' B ggwzeim ATTOR Y5.

2,961,676 ANGULARLY-SUPPORTED SPONGE MOP Adolph Rebernak, WesternSprings, and Eugene Chester Michaels, Chicago, Ill., assignors toAmerican-Marietta Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of IllinoisFiled June 20, 1955, Ser. No. 516,514 4 Claims. (Cl. 15 -119) Thisinvention relates to an angularly-supported sponge mop, and moreparticularly to a sponge mop equipped with means for compressing the mopto squeeze the moisture therefrom while at the same time supporting thesponge body of the mop at an angle to the handle during the moppingoperation.

An object of the present invention is to provide a sponge mop in whichthe sponge body is normally supported in a fiat position upon the floorwhile the handle extends therefrom at a convenient angle for the moppingoperation, while at the same time providing means for squeezing the mopbody to remove the contained liquid, etc. A further object is to providein such a mop structure means for maintaining the mop body in a tiltedposition with respect to the handle while restoring the mop body to anontilted position in the final squeezing operation. A still furtherobject is to provide a mop in which a relatively wide and thin sponge isemployed and supported in such a manner as to rest in a flat positionupon the floor while the handle of the mop is inclined at an angle fromthe mop head for easy manipulation of the sponge in its flat positionupon the floor, means being provided for folding the mop body uponitself to squeeze the moisture therefrom and in the latter action tobring the sponge portions into general alignment with the handle. Yetanother object is to provide in such a structure rotary hinge meanswhereby the sponge body and the supporting parts therefor may be tiltedwith respect to the handle during the mopping and squeezing operations.Still another object is to provide a sponge mop which gives a largefloor area while at the same time utilizing a relatively thin sponge andproviding means for so compressing the sponge in a single plane that itcan be wrung effectively without distortion. A still further object isto provide a sponge having a relatively large floor-contacting areawhich may be effectively wrung while at the same time maintaining thehandle of the mop at an effective working angle in the neighborhood of45. Other specific objects and advantages will appear as thespecification proceeds.

The invention is shown, in illustrative embodiments, by the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a sponge mop andoperating mechanism therefor embodying our invention; Fig. 2, a brokenside View in elevation; Fig. 3, a side view in elevation showing the mopbody folded upon itself and in the process ofbeing squeezed; Fig. 4, abroken perspective view of the mop structure with the sponge bodyresting upon the floor in mopping position; Fig. 5, a broken perspectiveview showing the sponge body in folded and partly compressed conditionasthe water is being removed; Fig. 6, a broken detail sectional view, thesection being taken as indicated at line 66 of Fig. 2; Fig. 7, aperspective view of a modified form of mop embodying our invention; Fig.8, a broken sectional view, the section being taken as indicated at line88 of Fig. 7; and Fig. 9, a broken side view in elevaatent G 2,961,676Patented Nov. 29, 1960 tion showing the sponge body folded upon itselfand in the process of being compressed for the removal of liquid.

In the illustration given in Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, 10 designates amop handle having its lower end pivotally connected to a mop head 11. Inthe specific'illustration given, the handle is formed of two parts, anupper part 10a formed of wood, or the like, and a lower part 10b formedof metal, or other suitable material. The two handle parts arepreferably threadably connected and an operating tube 12, equipped witha handle portion 13, encloses the handle parts, the tube or actuatinghandle 12 being equipped with connections, which will later bedescribed, for manipulating the mop parts for squeezing the mop body.

The handle portion 10b is pivotally connected by the pivot pin 14 to theupwardly-struck cars 15 of the head 11, as shown best in Fig. 6. As seenin Fig. 6 and also in Figs. 2 and 3, a coil spring 16 extends about thepivot pin 14 and has one leg portion 16a engaging the head 11 and avertical leg portion 16b engaging the handle part 10b, the spring beingstressed so as to maintain the handle part 10b normally in the angularposition illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, which is in the neighborhood of a45 angle. It will be understood that the angle can be varied from thesuggested 45 angle to adapt it for convenient operation by the user.

The head 11 has front and rear flanges 17 turned upwardly and the sameare provided with slots 18, as shown best in Fig. 6. As seen from Fig.2, the rear flange 17 acts as a stop means to determine the angle atwhich handle portion 10b and head 11 are positioned under the urging ofcoil spring 16.

Base or hinge plates 19 are connected to the head 11 by means of pivotpins 20 which extend through the inner portions of the plates 19 andthrough the slots 18. Each of the plates 19 is preferably provided withside flanges 21 extending upwardly and at their outer ends are aperturedto receive threaded studs 23 whereby the plates may be anchored throughthe means of wing nuts 22 to the sponge body 24.

The sponge body 24, which may be formed of cellulose, sponge rubber,fabric, or any suitable material, is preferably provided with a pair ofspaced metal plates 25 covered with canvas or other fabric 26, the plateand canvas being anchored to the top of the sponge by adhesive. Usuallyplate 25 is provided with threaded stud 23 which extends through thefabric 26 and an opening in the plate 19 and is engaged by wing nut 22by which the parts are securely anchored together. Since the spongeassembly structure is well known, a detailed description herein isbelieved unnecessary.

For manipulating the hinge or pressure plates 19 in the compression ofthe sponge body, toggle links are provided between the handle tube 12andthe plates 19, the arrangement being such that the plates may rotateangularly with respect to the toggle links as they are manipulated. Asshown in the illustration, the handle tube 12 is provided at its bottomwith a flared fitting 27, to which are secured by rivets or other meansthe diagonally-extending links 28. The lower ends of the rails 28 areeach pivotally connected to a short link member 29, which has integraldiverging legs 30. The legs 30 straddle a cylindrical disk 31, which ispivotally mounted by pivot pin 32 upon a pair of spaced cars 33 whichare preferably struck upwardly from the metal of each hinge plate 19. Itwill be noted that the pivot 32 is in alignment with the central pivotpin 14 which connects th handle 10 to the head plate 11.

A coil spring 34 is extended about one end of the pivot pin 30a whichconnects the legs 30 of the link 29 with 3 the disk 31. As will be seenfrom Figs. 4 and 5, the spring portion 36 which extends upwardly isconfined against outward movement by link member 29, and the springportion 35 w 'ch extends inwardly thus tends to press the inner portionof each plate 19 downwardly and thereby maintains each plate 19 normallyin a flat pla'ne. Movement of the inner ends of the plates 19 in adoomward direction is limited by the head 11 and the pivots 20. It willbe observed that the springs 34 carried by the plates 19 tend tomaintain the plates in the horizontally-aligned position desired for themopping operation, while at the same time these springs yield to permitsqueezing of the mop when the plates 19 are moved toward each other, asillustrated in Fig. 5, and it will be noted further that the coil spring16 on'the pivoted handle tends to maintain the handle for the moppingoperation normally at an angle of about 45 with respect to the mop body24.

Operation In the operation of the structure, the sponge body 24 isnormally maintained in the flat position illustrated best in Fig. 1,while the handle 10' extending upwardly and rearwardly therefrom ismaintained at a convenient angle for operation generally in theneighborhood of 45. By means of the springs 16 and 34, the operatingparts are maintained in a firm and relatively rigid condition so thatthe mop can be manipulated by the user in an effective moppingoperation, the fiat sponge 24 being moved forwardly and rearwardlyacross the floor with the full face of the sponge in contact with thefloor. When it is desired to wring the mop, the handle tube portion 13is pressed downwardly, while the handle 10 is held in the other hand ofthe user and this causes the parts to move to the position shown best inFig. 5. In this manner, a uniform squeezing of the folded sponge body 24is brought about. In the latter operation, the sponge body 24 turns fromits angular position, as shown in Fig. l, to a position in which thefolded sponge portions 24 are in longitudinal alignment with the mophandle 10, as illustrated in Fig. 3. The rotary disks 31 mounted uponpivot pins 32 rotate to permit the toggle links 28 and 29 to move to thealigned position shown in Figs. 3 and 5, while in the same operation,each link 29 is free to rotate about the pin 30a. Such connectionspermit the sponge 24 and its supporting plate structure to move from theangular position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, to the non-angular position atwhich the handle 10 is perpendicular to the sponge body 24 or,expressing it in another Way, in which the folded parts of the spongebody, as illustrated in Fig. 5, are longitudinally aligned with the mophandle 10.

After the sponge has been thoroughly squeezed in the foregoingoperation, the parts may be restored to their normal positions, asillustrated in Fig. l, and in this operation the spring 16 causes thehandle automatically to move to the angular position illustrated in Fig.1 and the springs 34 cause the plate members 19 to move to theirlongitudinally-aligned position for maintaining the sponge body in itsfiat, floor-engaging position.

In the modification illustrated in Figs. 7, 8 and 9, the structure isvery similar to that shown in Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, the differenceresiding mainly in the spring means employed for maintaining the partsin the angular relation shown. In the structure illustrated in Figs. 7to 9, inclusive, the tubular handle 37 is provided with a transverse pin38 forming an abutment for the upper end of a compression spring 29. Thelower end of the spring is supported by a cross-pin 40 carried by thelower end of the mop handle 41. By this means, the handle portion 41 isnormally urged downwardly with respect to the operating handle 37. Thelower end of the handle 41 is provided with a slot 42 which receives thepivot pin 43 carried by spaced ears 44 welded to the head plate 45. Alink 46 pivotally connects the boss 47 on the lower handle portion 41 tothe boss 48 carried by each of the cars 44, as illustrated best in Fig.8.

For maintaining the handle generally at an angle of about 45", we employa spring 49 which is connected at its upper end to the handle part 41and at its lower end to the head plate 45. Instead of striking segmentsfrom the plates 19a to form the supporting ears for the toggle links, weweld the ears to the plates. In other respects, the structure is verysimilar to that already described and shown in Figs. 1 to 6, inclusiveIn operation, the spring 39 normally urges the lower handle part 41downwardly, while the toggle links 28a and 29a, through theirconnections with the plates 19a, restrain downward movement of theplates. When the handle tube member 37 is pressed downwardly, the spring39 is compressed while yielding to permit the plates 19a to be movedtogether, in the manner heretofore described in connection with Figs. 1to 6, for the squeezing of the mop body. At the same time, the spring 49elongates. After the squeezing operation, the parts are returned totheir original position, the spring 39 serving to align the plates 19awith the head 45 while the spring 49 draws the handle 41 to an-angle ofabout 45 with respect to the sponge body 50.

While, in the foregoing specification, we have set forth specificstructures in considerable detail for the purpose of illustrating ourinvention, it will be understood that such specific structures may bevaried widely by those skilled in the art without departing from thespirit of our invention.

We claim:

1. In a mop structure, an elongated sponge body, a head resting uponsaid body, squeeze plates pivotally connected to said head and securedto said body, and a handle pivotally connected to said head, a slidehandle mounted on said first-mentioned handle, toggle links connectingsaid sliding handle to said plates, stop means on one of said handle andhead, and spring means cooperating with said stop means to normallyyieldably urge said handle to an angle in the neighborhood of 45 withrespect to said head but permitting said handle to move to a verticalposition with respect to said head when said slide handle is manipulatedfor squeezing said sponge, the pivotal connection of said squeeze platesto said head comprising pivot pin and slot connections, said pin andslot connections permitting lateral shifting of the inner ends of saidsqueeze plates away from one another when said sliding handle is movedto press the squeeze plates about the sponge to fold it upon itself,said lateral shifting of the inner ends of the squeeze plates being inaddition to any lateral component of movement of said ends caused byrotation of said plates about their respective pin and slot connections,each of said connections serving at least during the latter part of thewringing operation as the fulcrum against which its associated squeezeplate bears to apply wringing pressure to the sponge compressed betweensaid plates.

2. A compression mop, comprising an elongated sponge body, a headresting upon said body and having side flanges provided with spacedslots, a pair of spaced plates secured to said sponge body and havingtheir inner ends connected to said head by pivot pins extending throughsaid slots, said pin and slot connections between said mop head andplates permitting lateral shifting of the inner ends of said plates awayfrom one another when the sponge is folded upon itself during thewringing operation, said lateral shifting of the inner ends of theplates being in addition to any lateral component of movement of saidends caused by rotation of said plates about their respective pin andslot connections, each of said pin and slot connections serving at leastduring the latter part of the wringing operation as the fulcrum againstwhich its associated plate bears to apply wringing pressure to thesponge compressed between said plates, a handle pivotally mounted uponsaid mop head, spring means yieldably urging said handle and said mophead into a position of about 45 with respect to" each other,

a slide handle mounted upon said first-mentioned handle, toggle linksconnecting said slide handle and said spaced plates, universal jointconnections between said toggle links and said plates, and spring meanscarried by said toggle links and said plates for normally yieldablyurging said plates into horizontally-aligned positions.

3. A mop structure comprising an elongated mop body adapted to rest upona floor, a mop head positioned above said mop body, a handle pivotallysecured to said mop head, cooperating spring means on said handle andmop head and stop means on one of said handle and mop head for yieldablymaintaining said handle normally at a predetermined angle with respectto said mop head, squeeze plates mounted upon said mop body on eitherside of said mop head, lost motion connections between said head andsqueeze plates, said lost motion connections permitting lateral shiftingof the inner ends of said squeeze plates away from one another when themop body is folded upon itself during the wringing operation, saidlateral shifting of the inner ends of the squeeze plates being inaddition to any lateral component of movement of said ends caused byrotation of said plates about their respective lost motion connections,each of said lost motion connections serving at least during the latterpart of the wringing operation as the fulcrum against which itsassociated squeeze plate bears to apply wringing pressure to the mopbody compressed between said plates, a sliding handle mounted upon saidfirst mentioned handle, toggle links carried by said sliding handle andconnected by universal joints to said plates, said lost motionconnections maintaining continuous wringing pressure upon said squeezeplates when said sliding handle is moved to compress said squeeze platesabout said mop body to fold it upon itself, and spring means carried bysaid toggle links and squeeze plates pressing upon said plates andnormally yieldably maintaining them in horizontal alignment with saidmop head.

4. In a mop structure, an elongated mop body adapted to rest upon afloor, a mop head positioned at the longitudinal center of said body, apair of mop plates secured to said mop body and pivotally attached tosaid mop head by means of lost motion connections, said lost motionconnections permitting lateral shifting of the inner ends of said mopplates away from one another when the mop body is folded upon itselfduring the wringing operation, said lateral shifting of the inner endsof the mop plates being in addition to any lateral component of movementof said ends caused by rotation of said plates about their respectivelost motion connections, each of said lost motion connections serving atleast during the latter part of the wringing operation as the fulcrumagainst which its associated mop plate bears to apply wringing pressureto the mop body compressed between said plates, a mop handle pivotallysecured to said mop head, cooperating spring means on said handle andmop had and stop means on one of said handle and mop head for yieldablyurging said handle normally to a predetermined inclination away from theperpndicular with respect to said mop head and body, an actuating handleassociated with said mop handle, and links connecting said actuatinghandle and said mop plates for compressing said mop body upon itselfagainst the force of said spring means.

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